Merrillville Indiana teacher suspended for ‘monkeys’ comment to class
A Merrillville Intermediate School 5th grade teacher was suspended with pay pending an investigation for telling his students “You all are acting like monkeys in a zoo,” Superintendent Dexter…
www.chicagotribune.com
By
Carole Carlson | For the Post-Tribune
PUBLISHED: March 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM CST | UPDATED: March 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM CST
A Merrillville Indiana Intermediate School 5th grade teacher was suspended with pay pending an investigation for telling his students “You all are acting like monkeys in a zoo,” Superintendent Dexter Suggs said Wednesday.
Suggs’ comments came after several parents complained about the remarks at Tuesday’s Merrillville School Board and the Gary branch of the NAACP launched an investigation into the incident.
Stephen Mays, president of the Gary branch, said the incident happened Feb. 24 in the unidentified teacher’s classroom. He criticized school officials for not meeting with parents who then contacted the NAACP.
“We take matters like this extremely seriously,” Suggs said.
The school at 1400 W. 61st Ave., serves 5th-and-6th graders.
“We understand that NAACP members were concerned about why the staff member was not immediately removed, but personnel decisions must follow our guidelines and contractual language and due process.”
Suggs said the investigation is moving forward “with a sense of urgency” and hoped it would be concluded by Friday.
After the incident, Suggs said students immediately reported it to the principal who notified parents with children in the class.
Suggs said the teacher admitted fault, but said it wasn’t meant to be taken in a racial way.
“He said he was frustrated with the students’ behavior, and he did apologize, unprompted by administrators,” Suggs said.
At Tuesday’s school board meeting, a parent complained that it marked the second time the teacher made a racially insensitive remark. “This is what he thinks about our kids,” said the parent, who’s a teacher in a neighboring district.
The parent said the students were resilient, “but I’m not. I’m not getting over this… Now, we see this coming from the president (Trump) also.”
Last month, Trump reposted a racist video that depicted Michelle and Barack Obama as apes.
Mays told the board he was disappointed with the district’s leadership, criticizing officials for allowing the teacher return to the classroom after the incident and for not meeting with upset parents.
“You let your kids go back to the classroom for that kind of abuse and so people are outraged and now it’s getting out of control,” Mays said.
“Do your job… so we can tamp this down and lower the temperature. To not talk to them (parents) is insulting.”
Board members apologized to parents.
Board member DeLena Thomas, who said two of her children are in the school district, said she wants the issue resolved to the parents’ liking.
“It’s not something we take lightly, we’re preparing our kids for a world that is racially tense right now… I appreciate you reaching out, I’m hoping some conversations continue.”
Board President Judy Dunlap expressed disappointment at the incident and thanked parents for speaking to the board.
“I’m a former principal at Gary Wirt and West Side, so I do know you will get some answers and we do not condone this type of behavior.”